buildpacks/pack

pack is a command-line tool for building container images using Cloud Native Buildpacks.

The tool addresses the need to convert application source code into runnable container images without requiring developers to write or maintain Dockerfiles. It implements the Platform Interface Specification for Cloud Native Buildpacks, automating the detection of application type and selection of appropriate build steps. The approach abstracts away container build complexity by delegating to buildpacks that encapsulate language and framework-specific build logic.

The tool serves three distinct audiences. App developers use pack to transform source code into images with minimal configuration. Buildpack authors use it to develop and test buildpacks before distribution. Operators use it to package buildpacks and maintain applications at scale. The project suits teams adopting cloud-native practices who want to standardize image builds across multiple languages and frameworks without managing individual build configurations per project.

The project maintains organized contribution and development processes, with dedicated documentation for contributors covering the pull request workflow, development setup, and release procedures. The codebase is written in Go and actively documents its specifications and implementation details in a separate specifications repository for reference by other platform implementations.